East Chapel Hill High School

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CHCCS Honors Staff at Annual Recognition Reception

Peres-da-Silva Named 2019-20 Teacher of the Year

Mary Patricia Peres-da-Silva of McDougle Middle, was named the CHCCS Teacher of the Year at the annual Recognition Reception on May 8 at Carrboro High.

Peres-da-Silva is a math teacher with 20 years of teaching experience. She holds bachelor of science and master of science degrees in physics from Bombay University (in Goa, India), a bachelor of arts degree in education from Annamalai University (in Madras, India), and a master of education degree in curriculum instruction from North Carolina Central University. Peres-da-Silva received a $1,000 check from Pinnacle Financial Partners, as well as gifts from area businesses.

Two Honor Teachers were also named on Wednesday. They are Ashley Quick-Hooker of Northside Elementary and Lauren Swanson of Ephesus Elementary. They each received a $500 check from the Chapel Hill-Carrboro Public School Foundation (PSF) and gifts from local businesses.

The Mary Scroggs Award for Excellence in Providing Support Services recognizes one classified staff member from each school and several Lincoln Center departments. The award recipient is Andrene Powell, the lead custodian at Northside Elementary, who also received a $1,000 check. Two Honor Recipients were named. They are Marla Brown, a teacher assistant at McDougle Elementary, and Julie Walker, the school secretary at McDougle Middle. They each received $500.

Sonya Sutton, school counselor at Chapel Hill High, received the Exceptional Children Student Services Staff of the Year Award, as well as a check for $500. The two Honor Recipients are Patti Burke, school nurse at Estes Hills Elementary, and Jessica Harris, school counselor at East Chapel Hill High. They each received $250.

Classified and EC staff of the Year gifts were provided by FSI Office and University Florist.

Other staff awards were also presented at the event.

Emily Bivins of FPG Bilingüe Elementary was recognized as the district's Principal of the Year, while Anna Hipps of Chapel Hill High was named the district's Assistant Principal of the Year. Misti Williams, senior executive director of leadership and strategy, received the Award for Excellence in District Administration.

Carla Gilchrist of Glenwood Elementary was the recipient of the Jeannette Blackwell Mentor Teacher Award. Torrance Jones of Northside Elementary received the CHC Promising New Teacher Award. Mary Latham of Seawell Elementary and Daniella Buenaventura of FPG Bilingüe Elementary were named the recipients of the Elmo's Award for Excellence in Teaching English Language Learners and Dual Language. Delia Hudson of McDougle Elementary and Anna O’Connell of Carrboro High received the MSAN (Minority Student Achievement Network) Equity Equals Excellence Award. Bill Melega of Chapel Hill High was awarded The Reckford Teaching Prize.

The Chapel Hill-Carrboro Association of Educators (CHCAE) presented two new awards this year to CHCAE members. Vanessa Diggs of East Chapel Hill High received the Courageous Educator Award and Jaclyn Holland of Estes Hills Elementary was the recipient of the Consummate Professional Award.

The Blue Ribbon Mentor-Advocate (BRMA) program presented two Excellence in Equitable Teaching Awards. These award recipients are selected by the students in BRMA. The middle school award went to Eric Zeigler of Smith Middle, and Timothy Walker of Carrboro High received the high school award.

Representatives of PSF were on hand to present both new and renewing Teaching Chairs. Kathryn Cole of Northside Elementary is the Mary U. Andrews Chair for Excellence in Teaching Literacy (a new chair this year). Clare Matusevich of Chapel Hill High is the Elmo’s Diner Chair for Excellence in Teaching High School Math or Science. Melissa Barry of Carrboro High is the Kim Hoke Chair for Excellence in Teaching Exceptional Children. Helen Motta of Culbreth Middle is the Zora Rashkis Teaching Chiar in Middle School Language Arts or Social Studies. Katy Cobb of McDougle Elementary is the Upper Elementary Chair for Excellence in Teaching Innovation.

Renewing Chair recipients were also honored on Wednesday. Molly Caudill of Culbreth Middle is the GlaxoSmithKline Chair for Excellence in Teaching Middle School Science or Math. Ann Daaleman of Phillips Middle is the PSF/PTSA Chair for Excellence in Teaching Cultural Arts. Michael Sharp of Culbreth Middle is the Neil Pedersen Teachers First Chair for Excellence in Classroom Technology. Mackenzie Casey of Smith Middle is the Mel and Zora Rashkis Chair for Excellence in Teaching Health and PE. Amy BrazaskI of Morris Grove is the Sockwell Chair for Excellence in Teaching in the Primary Grades (Pre-K-2). Morgan May of Culbreth Middle is the Burton Stuart Chair for Promising New Teachers of Secondary Math or Science. Anthony Swarigen of Carrboro High is the Bernadine Sullivan Chair for Excellence in Teaching High School English or Social Studies.

The annual Recognition Reception is hosted in collaboration with the Public School Foundation (PSF).

“Each year, we devote one evening to recognize our educators as a whole, honoring accomplishments from all areas of Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools. Because of the work our honorees put in throughout the school year and throughout their careers, we want to celebrate and highlight each of them. We have staff members who have served the district for 20 or more years and their commitment shouldn’t go unnoticed. We also have retirees who have dedicated themselves to education and deserve our thanks as they start a new chapter in their lives, ” said Superintendent Pam Baldwin. “I look forward to this opportunity every year – the chance to publically thank each honoree for all they do for our community.”